No Lie

1 John 2:18-29

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. How many times have you heard that expression? It is the responsibility of citizens to know what is expected of them and to live up to those expectations. Just to say you weren’t aware a certain prohibition existed does not absolve you from guilt any more than saying, “I didn’t know,” necessarily saves a child from getting into trouble. We should make it our business to learn what rules apply to our day to day lives.

In a manner of speaking, ignorance of the gospel is no excuse either. Take today’s reading from 1 John for example. “I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth” (1 John 2:21). There is no way that the readers of this letter can claim ignorance. They are aware of the circumstances they face, of the importance of the hour. Events are afoot that could cause turmoil for the Christian community. John’s readers should reflect on what they have already come to know and allow that knowledge to guide them in difficult times. “You know what I’m talking about,” John is saying, “and you cannot allow yourselves to be swayed by something other than this truth.”

We should take note of John’s exhortation ourselves. As we seek to live in faith we should be guided by what we know to be true and how that truth allows for no falsehood. This doesn’t make a life of faith any easier, but it does underscore the need for careful attention. As situations arise our responses should come from what we know to be true, primarily that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Prayer: Gracious God, help us to live the truth of your love in all that we do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Physics of Theology

Colossians 1:15-23

Physics was never my favorite subject. There were aspects of it that I really enjoyed, but for the most part I just wasn’t interested. So maybe I’m not the best person to make this statement, but it would appear that our reading from Colossians 1 today, while it may be great theology, is really lousy science. “[Jesus] himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17), we read. It is verses like this one that seem to divide the scientific community from the church and its doctrine.

First of all questions about creation are guaranteed to start an argument. Creationism, Intelligent Design, 300 million years, 7 days; you name it and we people of faith can have a pretty good squabble about it. But here the writer of Colossians claims that Jesus is before all things, not was before all things, is before all things. Then there is this odd assertion, that it is by Jesus that “all things hold together.” I thought that friction, or bonding, or some other concept did that. I thought gravity played a role in keeping stuff where it was supposed to be. I thought there were forces and their opposites that did the “holding together.” What has Jesus got to do with this?

But here’s the good news that we miss if we aren’t careful. What is it that allows science and faith to stand shoulder to shoulder, that gives all people – regardless of their particular perspective – reason to unite? And that is where we discover the miracle, for while there are a million ways to divide us up and to break us off, there is precious little that can put us back together again. But Jesus can, for in Jesus “all things hold together.” For those of us who are Christians what unity we experience comes when in unison we say, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” So maybe our faith is the physics of theology, the recognition that above it all and before it all there is something else, something that counters our tendency to turn against each other. The author of Colossians has given us reason to celebrate! In Jesus Christ we stand together for it is Jesus Christ “that all things hold together.”

Prayer: Lord, in so many ways we pull ourselves apart. By your grace put us back together again that we might serve you in a unity of purpose. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

All Together Now (Tuesday of Holy Week)

Philippians 3:15-21

Since we can always find reasons to divide ourselves from others—race, politics, nationality, gender, wealth, occupation––the challenge is to find reasons to unite. This is true in society, and—sadly—in the church as well. Fortunately, Paul offers Christians just such a reason for unity. “But our citizenship is in heaven,” he writes, “and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

No matter where we stand on any other issue or factor, we find common cause when we profess our faith in God through Jesus Christ. And that faith has given us a new identity, what Paul calls our “citizenship in heaven.” Seen in this light, how can we allow anything to disrupt our community? And yet we do, over and over again. Doctrine, ordination standards, church governance, personalities, hurt feelings, the church falls pray to them all. And when the church fragments it is less able to live out its calling.

I have experienced conflict in the church. It can cause unimaginable pain as it draws the life out of a community. And while it is always easy to assign blame in such circumstances, to point fingers and make threats, what it needed is a willingness to look to our common faith and to allow Jesus Christ to draw us together. Imagine the power of such witness! Imagine the model we could offer the world! “Our citizenship is in heaven…” Paul tells us. And though the church has always been a victim to its own divisiveness, we may look for the day when our common heritage bridges all chasms and gives us the courage to stand together saying, “Jesus is Lord!”

Prayer: Lord, as we reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, let us be more aware of the sacrifices we can make for one another as a step toward unity. Amen.